Norway's women's coach expects tough challenge

Four years ago Norway's women's national team won the silver medal at the 2009 European Beach Handball Championship on home soil in Larvik.

Back then Eskil Berg Andreassen was in charge of the national team, just like he is today.

And now, five months out of the 2013 European Beach Handball Championship in Randers, Denmark, and with the teams being seeded, he expects anouther tough challenge.

Norway's women have to face defending champions, Croatia, as well as Hungary, Russia, Poland and Ukraine in Group A when the tournament throws off on July 14.

"I hope we can do just as well as we did four years ago and take a medal again, but I am sure it will be difficult," Eskil Berg Andreassen told eurohandball.com.

"Croatia are defending champions, Hungary just get stronger and stronger all the time, and Russia as well as Ukraine are also strong teams, so I definitely think we are in a tougher group than the Danes.

However. he has a lot of confidence in his players.

“We have not really started to collect our squad yet, but we have a lot of really experienced players to pick from, so I expect us to have a really strong team in Randers in July,” he said.

Four years ago Norway's women's team featured current indoor handball national team players such as Marit Malm Frafjord, Anja Edin and Linn Gosse.

Berg Andreassen also stressed that playing in Randers will almost be like playing at home

"I am sure it will be great to play in Denmark. The Danes have experience when it comes to arranging successful championships, and I am sure they will make a great event this time, too, and hopefully with a lot of spectators.

"Hopefully, a good performance from our side at the championship can boost beach handball in Norway again.

"We experienced a huge interest after the European Championship in Larvik four years ago, where there was also a lot of attention from the media.

"I hope that a good championship for Norway, and a fine championship in general, can make the interest in the sport increase again in our country.

"I am in no doubt that there will be a lot of media interest in the tournament in Denmark. And as Danish TV2 is also going to broadcast from the tournament, I expect beach handball to get a lot of attention,” Eskil Berg Andreassen told eurohandball.com.